Month: December 2017

“Ancient wisdom” always seems to have a ring of truth in it. “Never build your house on another man’s land!” is one of my favorites. I was prompted to think about that by recent events in Sussex County. Mobile home owners are protesting landlord Hometown America’s customary annual increase in land rent as tenants renew…

Website Brand New: The Power of Rebranding You’ve heard about it. You’ve seen the results. Maybe you’ve even been part of a rebranding effort. But do you really understand what branding means? Some people think a brand is a company’s logo and colors. Others say that it’s a vision statement and mission, or an…

(AP) — U.S. homebuilders are feeling more optimistic than they have in nearly two decades. The National Association of Home Builders/Wells Fargo builder sentiment index rose five points to 74 this month. That’s the highest reading since July of 1999, more than 18 years ago. Readings above 50 indicate more builders see sales conditions as…

The Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) used by nonprofits are changing in the new year. If you’re a board member, a nonprofit CFO or in charge of corporate philanthropy, here’s what you need to know: 1. Virtually all nonprofits are affected — IF they prepare financial statements. The changes in GAAP standards apply to foundations,…

(AP) — A public hearing will be held in Delaware next week on an interstate fishery management plan for black sea bass. The Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control’s Division of Fish & Wildlife will host the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission hearing on Jan. 3. The latest draft addendum to the plan…

(AP) — The attorneys general in eight Eastern Seaboard states are suing the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency over air pollution that blows in from upwind states. New York Democrat Eric Schneiderman (SHNEYE’-dur-muhn) is the leading attorney general in the lawsuit. He says it was filed Tuesday in a federal appeals court in the District of…

The Conference Board Consumer Confidence Index dropped in December, following a modest improvement in November. “Consumer confidence retreated in December after reaching a 17-year high in November,” said Lynn Franco, director of economic indicators at The Conference Board. “The decline in confidence was fueled by a somewhat less optimistic outlook for business and job prospects…

Dick Hourigan, the owner of Richard Hourigan Inc. in Bear, is sponsoring an internet contest to celebrate his 25th year in business. The winner can choose a Myron L512T5D pool meter or a Myron LEP-10 conductivity meter. Hourigan, a retired army lieutenant colonel who served in the special forces and the chemical corps, is also…

PNC Financial Services Group, following the signing of the tax reform bill, last week announced it will provide a $1,000 cash payment to about 47,500 employees in the first quarter of the new year and provide an addition $1,500 for employees in the bank’s defined benefit pension plan. PNC will also raise its minimum pay…

We are quickly approaching the holiday season. Retailers are getting their displays in order, while online merchants retool their websites and search engine optimization to prepare for the gift-giving frenzy. Children are often on the receiving end, as annual sales for gifts to kids are generally quite robust. The NPD Group estimates that $26.5 billion…